Monday, 31 October 2011

2. The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel looks really inviting at dusk (well, if we're being honest, at anytime!)

3. Loved these Tom Dixon pendants.

4. Had fun spray painting pumpkins gold for our Halloween decorating.

5. Clear, blue skies on a crisp, autumn day are to be savoured.

6. I enjoyed reading Jan Constantine's new book Love Stitching and it inspired me to get sewing again soon, particularly to make this anchor seat pad. (Photography: Caroline Arber, Publisher: Jacqui Small)

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Thank you for your company here this week, friends! Halloween is becoming a bigger and bigger event here in the UK every year; I remember when I was a kid and it was a struggle to even find a place to buy pumpkins - now, the supermarkets have whole isles dedicated to halloween decor. A lot of the off the shelf Halloween decorations here in the UK are quite tacky, so I prefer to make something a little more stylish. If you're looking to do the same, why not try out these great ideas from Sweet Paul magazine? My personal favourite is the 'boo' stitch frame. Which one would you like to try? Wishing you all a spooktacular weekend!

Friday, 28 October 2011

Yesterday, I was clearing through a sizable stack of magazines when I fell upon two Bright.Bazaar press features from over the summer. First up was a lovely feature in Casa Facile magazine's July issue, which is one of Italy's leading interiors titles - they even used one of my layouts from the Bright Links feature I do on Sundays! The second feature was in Space magazine's May/June issue, which included some images from my styling portfolio and words by Pauline Cuevas. Thanks to both titles for being kind enough to feature Mr. Bazaar and the colourful world of Bright.Bazaar!

Thursday, 27 October 2011

Following up A Stylist's Guide to NYC with her latest title Nomad: Bringing Your Travels Home, Sibella Court delivers a book full of colourful and diverse inspiration in the eclectic style she has become so well known for. Having travelled to Syria, Mexico, Italy, India and Japan for inspiration you can expect to find ideas for everything from door knobs and street signs to roadside shrines and household brooms. Reinforcing her approach to decorating being about rearranging and recycling rather than recreating a whole scheme, Sibella has curated an inspired collection of photographs, vignettes and mementos from her travels to ignite ideas for the reader's own homes. I found the abundance of blue hues in the Japan and Italy chapters most inspiring, but the whole book is perfect if you are looking for colour inspiration. I also really liked Sibella's ideas for Christmas decorating: inspired by Capri she created a theme that detailed sea flotsam, sea urchins, giant starfish, sea horses and more - so unique! What's inspiring you from this peek inside Sibella Court's new book?

Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Alongside colourful interiors, those with a rustic, weathered and well-loved vibe are some of all time favourites. Whether it's a weathered farmhouse table or the cold, smooth surface of a stainless steel stool, there are various ways of creating a rustic feel to a kitchen. The first space - the kitchen of TV presenter Ben Fogle and his wife - illustrates how a combination of exposed brick walls and vintage finds can create a rustic vibe. No brick walls in your crib? No fear, as the second kitchen is a great example of how to add a subtle rustic feel to a space, as opposed to it being the overriding theme to the room. This is achieved by styling the modern cabinetry with rattan textures, found items and rustic-cum-industrial furniture pieces, such as the the Tolix stool. Finally, if you're looking to redo your kitchen from scratch then using worn, wooden storage and cabinets is a good option. Once complete, be sure to pile high with a mix of tactile, wooden accessories. Which kitchen would you choose?

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Sabrina Soto, a TV personality for HGTV in America, recently moved to Manhattan, NYC and so her apartment feels very current with what is currently in many of the big stores on the high street. Steely grey hues have been softened with punches of bold and graphic colour, like the extra large orange tile rug in the living room. Soto's confident use of both colour and pattern works well here as they serve to pull together the main furniture pieces in each room but don't dominate the schemes. This results in a space that has a youthful vibe without being too childish. As well as her use of colour, I'm really impressed with how Sabrina arranges her collections, from vintage fans to glass vases, her vignettes are beautifully executed! What do you like about this Manhattan space?

Monday, 24 October 2011

1. I felt inspired by the navy and azure blue hues of the matchbox I bought from Jonathan Adler's new London store.2. The light in London on Sunday was beautiful - I took this snap in Covent Garden.3. Vintage school chairs with added stripe detail? Yep, they're rapidly stealing Mr. Bazaar's heart!4. Enjoyed the autumnal feel at the farmer's market, especially seeing these bright orange pumpkins.5. Saturday night spent in chilling out by candle light was really peaceful and relaxing.6. These darling animal cards arrived from Le Canot Rouge - you can order them at 10% off using the code 'brightbazaar10'. (Pssst! There's free international shipping, too!) My favourite is the bear eating the pie!7. Couldn't help but smile when I saw this owl bottle opener on a tumblr dedicated to... owls!8. Loved this colour block desk.9. So tempted to buy these illustrative prints as a nod to my love of Italian food.10. This limited edition Kenwood mixer reminded me of baking cakes with my mum when I was younger.

Saturday, 22 October 2011

﻿Welcome to the weekend, friends! What are your plans? I'm hoping to fit in some DIY time with the trusty glue gun, but if I had an entryway big enough in my apartment to take a side table like the above, then I would make it. I think it would be a fun piece to DIY: you could find an old table at home or from the flea market, then ask a carpenter to saw to size. Back at home, after sanding it down and applying a layer of primer, dive on in and paint it with your most colourful hue - the result would make for a really colourful welcome in the hallway. Of course, the super chic Merci bag is optional, but recommended...! Have a good one, folks.

Friday, 21 October 2011

﻿Isn't this desk space a goodun'?! It's featured in the first ever catalogue by lifestyle brand Bodie and Fou and was by far my favourite tear sheet from it. The desk has been styled with a subtle arty feel, yet still maintains a masculine edge thanks to the metal shelving units and rustic wooden textures. Up close you can see the level of detail that has gone into the inspiration board that stretches the length of the desk; I think I even spot a bag from one of my favourite stores in Paris, Merci! You can see more beautiful interiors inspiration by viewing the Bodie and Fou catalogue online here or ordering it here. What inspires you about this home office space?

Thursday, 20 October 2011

The folks over at John Lewis have curated two key contemporary trends for the 2011 autumn/winter season: Refined Puritan and Retro Reborn. The puritan trend has a pared back feel, detailing a muted colour palette with a utilitarian feel. Tactile, natural elements are mixed in with understated checks and stripes for pattern. The second main trend, Retro Reborn, is a more light-hearted and graphic assortment of products. The urban chic range contains plenty of block colour which gives the pieces a clean and retro feel. Of course, I do love the Reborn range, especially those numeric canisters and the retro tea towels. Which of these two John Lewis homeware trends do you like best?

With Halloween festivities just around the corner, Stylist and Bright.Bazaar contributor Manvi Drona-Hidalgo has pulled together a monochromatic bash brimming with spooky surprises, lingering textures and seasonal staples. All the links you need to shop the table are above, along with some additional market picks inspired by the look. Over to Manvi to share her top five tips for recreating this eerie soiree:

1. Look for items that reflect light around the table; the resulting shadows will up the atmosphere.

2. Make your own centrepieces using artichokes, fabric Hydrangeas and ostrich feathers - spray paint them in matt silver and black hues to tie in with the theme.

3. Set the theme in advance by sending invites made out of black card stock and place them in glassine pockets for an element of surprise.

4.Although I normally opt for non-drip candles, for this scheme I felt the melting wax added character to the table.